Every natural phenomenon that strikes leaves damage that must be repaired as soon as possible. Thus, some plans are put on hold to free resources for the recovery, and the state cannot move forward as fast as it would like.

Damages caused by Hurricane Irma, for example, were estimated at more than 13 billion pesos, mostly to housing, healthcare facilities, schools, agriculture, hotel infrastructure, as well as roads.

However, paradoxically, the main obstacle to the development of the Cuban economy’s potential is not related to nature, but to an immoral form of politics: the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States on Cuba.

The numbers are clear. Over almost 60 years, the most unjust, harsh, unrelenting system of unilateral sanctions that has ever been imposed on any country has caused the country damages amounting to over 933.67 billion dollars. From April 2017 to March 2018 alone, the impact was 4,321,200,000 dollars.

The current U.S. administration, far from desisting in this hostile policy, has reinforced it, and implemented it rigorously.
The blockade puts a brake on the implementation of both the country’s National Economic and Social Development Plan and the UN 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals.

It is the main obstacle to the development of economic, commercial and financial relations between Cuba and the United States and, due to its extraterritorial nature, with the rest of the world.

The U.S. government has taken a step back in bilateral relations with Cuba, following President Donald Trump’s signing of the “Presidential National Security Memorandum on the Strengthening of U.S. Policy towards Cuba,” on June 16, 2017, which endorsed among its objectives the tightening of the blockade.

In November of that same year, the U.S. Departments of Commerce, Treasury, and State issued new regulations and provisions to comply with the aforementioned Memorandum.

The measures adopted further restricted the right of U.S. citizens to travel to our country and imposed additional obstacles to the limited opportunities allowed U.S. companies in Cuba, by establishing a list of 179 Cuban entities with which U.S. institutions, corporations, and individuals are prohibited from conducting transactions.

The new sanctions against Cuba have caused a significant decrease in visits from the United States, and have generated greater obstacles to economic and commercial relations of Cuban companies with potential U.S. and third-country partners.

These measures not only affect the Cuban state economy, but also the country’s non-state sector.

The ongoing persecution of Cuban financial transactions and of banking and credit operations with Cuba on a global scale has intensified. This has caused serious damage to the country’s economy, in particular, to commercial activities of companies and national banks in their work with international banking institutions. (National news staff)

Source: Cuban Report regarding resolution 72/4 of the United Nations General Assembly, entitled “Necessity to end the economic, commercial, and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba.”

(Granma)

This was indicated in the final declaration of the second bi-regional ministerial summit that ended Tuesday in Brussels, in which high representatives of the 33 countries of the CELAC and the 28 of the EU participated.

‘We reiterate our rejection of the application of those unilateral coercive measures with extraterritorial effect that are contrary to international law and reiterate the need to end the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed on Cuba,’ the text said.

The two regional blocs reaffirmed their rejection of this hostile policy, maintained by Washington for more than half a century.

‘These measures have caused undue humanitarian consequences for the Cuban people and are damaging the legitimate development of commercial ties among Cuba, the European Union, and other countries,’ the statement added.

On the other hand, at the closing press conference of the conclave, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, stressed that the EU remains committed to the Agreement on Political Dialogue and Cooperation signed between that bloc and Cuba.

The instrument, signed at the end of 2016, made it possible to establish a favorable framework for advancing bilateral ties.

On numerous occasions, both parties have denounced the negative effects of the blockade and its extraterritorial application, in the expansion of the links between the community entity and the Caribbean nation.

The ministerial meeting between the EU and CELAC was held on Monday and Tuesday in Brussels, aimed at continuing to promote cooperation between the two regional organizations.

(Prensa Latina)

Gustavo Véliz, Cuba’s ambassador in Antigua and Barbuda, received notification from FedEx, a multinational courier delivery services company based in the United States, stating that the mission’s account in the country had been cancelled, as a result of the extra-territorial nature of the blockade imposed on Cuba.

According to the note, this is due to the fact that Fedex and its international subsidiaries are U. S. owned properties and subject to U.S. law, adding that the company could not handle deliveries to or from any part of a government on which sanctions have been imposed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, as part of the legal framework for the control of exports.

“Cuba is subject to U.S. sanctions and therefore, we cannot transport any delivery from the government of Cuba at this time, and in the future they will be rejected for pick-up and returned to the remittent,” the missive stated.

There are not enough pages in our newspaper to cite all the similar examples which have occurred over the 55 years of this hostile policy. Recalling one, not from the distant past either, is adequate to make evident the implicitly genocidal nature of the imperialists’ blockade.

In 2016, Hurricane Matthew left Baracoa, in the far eastern region of the island, in ruins. At that time, as a result of U.S. law, Cuba’s embassy in Ankara, Turkey, was not allowed to make a bank transfer, even though the eastern portion of Cuba was in a painful situation, being resolutely faced by the government, in need of all available funds.

The United Nations General Assembly has repudiated the U.S. blockade of Cuba for 25 consecutive years. On this stage, the entire world has supported resolutions to end the policy. Nevertheless, it appears that the deafness of the U.S. government is congenital, because it cannot understand the language of the people.

(Granma)

The most important element of the Obama administration’s new package is the authorization of credit to Cuba by U.S. banks, based both within and outside of the country, as well as other countries’ banks operating in the United States, for the purchase of approved exports or re-exports, with the exception of agricultural sales, which by law require payment in cash, in advance.

Measures previously approved, in January and September of 2015, opened the door, ever so slightly, for the export of U.S. products to Cuba, specifically construction materials, as well as equipment and tools for private businesses and non-state agricultural producers. Additionally approved was the re-export from third countries of U.S. made items used in activities of a scientific, archaeological, cultural, ecological, educational, athletic, research, historical preservation, or professional nature.

On this most recent occasion, in terms of exports, the measures imply a new general policy of licensing for some agricultural products, such as insecticides, and herbicides, as well as equipment necessary to the security of civil aviation and the operation of commercial international flights, including those on aircrafts rented to state-owned companies. This last item is important to the implementation of a preliminary agreement reached in December of last year, to establish commercial flights between the two countries.

Likewise included in this new licensing policy are exports and re-exports of U.S. made goods and software for non-governmental human rights organizations promoting independent activity in Cuba, as well as telecommunications equipment and devices.

One aspect of the latest measures is the decision to award licenses on a case by case basis, for exports and re-exports of products which meet the needs of the Cuban people, including purchases made for this purpose by state-owned enterprises, agencies and organizations. Cited as examples of license eligible products are those related to disaster preparedness; education; agricultural production; artistic endeavors; food processing; public transportation; public heath; home construction and repair; and construction of infrastructure which would directly benefit the Cuban people (such as water treatment and supply systems, for example.)

It is noteworthy that this is the first time the participation of Cuba’s government in these types of relations has been authorized – albeit in a limited, conditioned, case by case manner – an issue repeatedly raised by Cuban negotiating teams in talks between the two countries.

Nevertheless, it is important to point out that prohibitions remain in effect on the export of U.S. made products to state enterprises, agencies, or other institutions affiliated with the Cuban government which might generate income for the state, as is the case for the mining industry and tourism, as well as the armed forces, police, intelligence and security services.

CHANGES IN TRAVEL POLICY

As for travel to Cuba, also included in the announced changes were some modifications, such as the authorization of visits related to approved exports and re-exports, including trips made to conduct market studies, promotion, or contract negotiations, and to provide accompanied deliveries, installation, or services.

Additionally now permitted are temporary stays by personnel operating or providing services to ships and aircrafts transporting passengers between the two countries, meant to complement the abovementioned agreement on commercial flights between Cuba and the United States.

Also authorized in the new regulations were travel and other transactions linked to professional media or artistic production – including the filming or production of media reports, films, and television programs; musical recordings; and the creation of artworks. The changes also allow for the employment of Cubans and the transmission of royalties or other payments.

General licensing for participation in events organized in Cuba was broadened to now include professional meetings and conferences, in addition to travel and transactions related to the organization of international professional and amateur sporting events; public performances; clinics; workshops; other types of non-athletic competitions; and expositions. Likewise eliminated were requirements that earnings from such events be donated to specific organizations, and that activities be directed, at least partially, by U.S. citizens.

ON THE RIGHT PATH…

The new changes announced by the Obama administration represent another step forward in relations between the two countries, and confirm the fact that much can be done to dismantle the blockade by eliminating restrictions which are not codified in law and require Congressional action.

This authorization of credit to Cuba for purchases in the U.S. appeared to be a distant possibility when the process of reestablishing relations began, just a year ago.

Yet, there is still a long way to go. A glaring omission in this most recent package of modifications is authorization for Cuba’s use of the dollar in international financial transactions, which remains prohibited and undoubtedly makes the country’s commercial relations more expensive and difficult around the world.

Likewise, exports to Cuban state enterprises remain limited to specific areas, and require case by case evaluation and licensing. Nor are policies approved for the telecommunications industry – including investment and sales of basic equipment, software and devises – applicable to other sectors.

Other elements of the blockade which have yet to be addressed include those related to Cuban exports to the United States, and the authorization of individual travel to Cuba in the category of people-to-people exchanges.

Nonetheless, if anything is made clear by this new initiative, it is that the opportunity exists to continue moving forward on this path, and gut the regulations which sustain the blockade. Perhaps this is the most expeditious route to promoting debate within the U.S. Congress, so that this body finally makes the decision demanded by 191 countries in the United Nations General Assembly, and advocated by President Obama himself, to definitively end the blockade.

Rodríguez denounced the damage caused by this hostile policy for over five decades, which has cost the country billions, and has hampered the comprehensive development of Cuba’s children and youth.

The document will be submitted to the United Nations General Assembly next month, for the first time since diplomatic relations were established between Cuba and the United States, in a process which began last December 17.

(Granma)